The 2025 WNBA season is off to a fiery begin, and followers are already buzzing with pleasure. The New York Liberty who have been final yr’s champions, are steamrolling the Japanese Convention with a dominant 7-0 file. In the meantime, out West, the Minnesota Lynx are displaying no indicators of slowing down, additionally going undefeated at 8-0.
However whereas regular-season motion heats up, there’s one other thrilling competitors underway that’s including much more stakes to the season which is the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup.
So what precisely is the Commissioner’s Cup and why ought to followers concentrate? Let’s break it down.
What Is the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup About?
In brief, the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup is a midseason match that offers groups an opportunity to compete for extra than simply the regular-season title. Initially deliberate for 2020, its debut was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and it lastly launched in 2021. Since then, it has turn into a key spotlight of the WNBA calendar.
Now in its fifth yr, the match was created to boost early-season competitors and supply elevated monetary incentives for gamers. The Commissioner’s Cup provides further depth to the primary a part of the season, with each bragging rights and bonus cash on the road. The 2025 version runs from June 1 to June 17.
Mark your calendars 🗓️
The race for the 2025 Commissioner’s Cup Championship introduced by @Coinbase suggestions off TOMORROW! Groups will battle it out by way of June 17 for a shot on the Cup Finals on July 1.
Who will rise to the highest and be topped this yr’s champion? pic.twitter.com/mg5ND4jsNo
— WNBA (@WNBA) Might 31, 2025
What Is the Format of the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup?
The WNBA Commissioner’s Cup facilities on early-season matchups inside every convention. Every crew performs one designated Cup sport towards each in-conference rival.
Within the Japanese Convention, which has six groups, every crew performs 5 Cup video games—one towards every of the opposite Japanese groups. In the meantime, within the Western Convention, with seven groups this yr, every crew performs six Cup video games.
What Is the Prize Cash of the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup?
As soon as the Commissioner’s Cup video games conclude between June 1 and June 17, the highest groups from the Japanese and Western Conferences will face off within the Cup Remaining. Past bragging rights, the stakes are excessive, with a $500,000 prize pool awaiting the successful crew.
However that’s not all—Coinbase, the official presenting companion of the Commissioner’s Cup, is sweetening the deal by including $120,000 value of cryptocurrency to the rewards. Every participant taking part within the last will obtain $5,000 in crypto, making this midseason championship each a aggressive spotlight and a big payday for the athletes.
Schedule of the 2025 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup
The video games which have already performed:
Date
Video games Performed
Rating
Jun-01
New York Liberty vs. Connecticut Solar
(100-52)
Phoenix Mercury vs. Los Angeles Sparks
(85-80)
Las Vegas Aces vs. Seattle Storm
(75-70)
Minnesota Lynx vs. Golden State Valkyries
(86-75)
Jun-03
Indiana Fever vs. Washington Mystics
(85-76)
Minnesota Lynx vs. Phoenix Mercury
(88-65)
Seattle Storm vs. Dallas Wings
(83-77)
The upcoming video games within the 2025 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup are as follows, per ESPN:
Date
Video games
Time (E.T.)
Jun-05
New York Liberty vs. Washington Mystics
7:30 PM
Golden State Valkyries vs. Phoenix Mercury
10:00 PM
Jun-06
Atlanta Dream vs. Connecticut Solar
7:30 PM
Los Angeles Sparks vs. Dallas Wings
9:30 PM
Jun-07
Las Vegas Aces vs. Golden State Valkyries
3:30 PM
Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky
8:00 PM
Seattle Storm vs. Phoenix Mercury
10:00 PM
Jun-08
Connecticut Solar vs. Washington Mystics
3:00 PM
Minnesota Lynx vs. Dallas Wings
4:00 PM
Jun-09
Golden State Valkyries vs. Los Angeles Sparks
10:00 PM
Jun-10
Indiana Fever vs. Atlanta Dream
7:30 PM
Chicago Sky vs. New York Liberty
8:00 PM
Jun-11
Los Angeles Sparks vs. Las Vegas Aces
10:00 PM
Dallas Wings vs. Phoenix Mercury
10:00 PM
Minnesota Lynx vs. Seattle Storm
10:00 PM
Jun-13
Chicago Sky vs. Atlanta Dream
7:30 PM
Dallas Wings vs. Las Vegas Aces
10:00 PM
Jun-14
Los Angeles Sparks vs. Minnesota Lynx
1:00 PM
New York Liberty vs. Indiana Fever
3:00 PM
Seattle Storm vs. Golden State Valkyries
8:30 PM
Jun-15
Chicago Sky vs. Connecticut Solar
12:00 PM
Atlanta Dream vs. Washington Mystics
2:00 PM
Phoenix Mercury vs. Las Vegas Aces
6:00 PM
Jun-17
Connecticut Solar vs. Indiana Fever
7:00 PM
Atlanta Dream vs. New York Liberty
7:00 PM
Washington Mystics vs. Chicago Sky
8:00 PM
Golden State Valkyries vs. Dallas Wings
8:00 PM
Las Vegas Aces vs. Minnesota Lynx
8:00 PM
Seattle Storm vs. Los Angeles Sparks
10:00 PM
The right way to Watch the 2025 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup?
Watching the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup has by no means been simpler for followers. The video games will air on main networks like ESPN, CBS Sports activities, and ION. Don’t have cable? No worries—streaming choices can be found too. You’ll be able to watch reside on Prime Video or catch each play by way of the WNBA League Cross.
